College football teams are made up of a diverse group of players. Some were walk-ons, others were highly touted high school recruits looking to go pro and the rest are student athletes.  A coach worthy to be called Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year has to motivate each type of player to produce wins on the field.

Since taking over the helm of Texas Tech in 2000 coach Mike Leach is an impressive 75-37.  This year the Red Raiders are a perfect 10-0 and are trying to make the jump from good to elite program.  They have their eyes set on the elusive BCS National Championship and Coach Leach has won with a variety of players.

Quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree have become a, if not the, top passing receiving tandem in the country.  Both have aspirations to play on Sundays in the NFL and under the tutelage of Coach Leach they’ll both get there.  On the flip side, Coach Leach has also been able to incorporate undersized 5′9″ senior wide out Eric Morris, “The Elf” into a huge part of the offense.

“He calls me the evil elf because he has all these different things; elves are small, they’re generally pretty mean and they corner well,” Morris said. “They’re good with a dagger. He goes on and on about how elves have different traits, and he thinks that I fit the traits of an elf. He thinks that I do well with the football in my hands and calls the football my dagger.”

While most teams use the Wildcat as the wrinkle in their offensive scheme Texas Tech uses the Elf Formation. Morris line up behind center takes the direct snap and can run it himself, pitch it or throw it. If watching one of your smallest teammates direct a potent offense doesn’t motivate you as a player then I don’t know what does.

Coach Mike Leach has turned Texas Tech into a perennial Top 25 team and almost has them to elite status. He is a proven winner, has won with all types of players and is another one of my candidates for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year.  Please visit the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year website and vote for Coach Mike Leach of your favorite candidate.